A Little Slice of Heaven
My kids have been talking about death an awful lot lately. I'm not sure why - I expect that they are finally getting up to speed on the darker side of some of the plots in the books we read and shows we watch. Orphans went unquestioned for the longest time, but now I find myself answering 9000 questions about where little Johnny's mommy or daddy is.
At first I thought I could gloss over it, you know, oh, well, Johnny's mommy and daddy are off on vacation, and he's just staying there at that hotel for kids.
Hah! They didn't buy it.
"Are they DEAD?" asked my wide eyed son.
"Who, the kids? No, silly. Look, all those kids at that Kid Hotel are totally alive. And happy, look!"
"No, Mommy. The mommies and daddies. Are THEY dead?"
"Uh, yeah, maybe, I don't know for sure." I answered, weakly.
I really don't know which is worse to try to explain, parents that abandon their kids, or parents that up and die. I'm clinging to vague explanations at this point.
"Mom, are they in heaven?" Whew! Talking about heaven is fine, angels, clouds, happy, tra la la!
"Sure, I bet they are." I smile at the kids, who are still looking at me like I'm hiding something horrible behind my back. "Yeah, heaven. It's great in heaven."
My son's face suddenly lights up. "Mom!" He is hopping on the balls of his feet. "Didja know that in heaven, they have Target? It's huge, and made out of clouds! And you can go there every day." He sighs dramatically. "I love Target Heaven."
Amen, little guy. Amen.
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Comments
Sound like my kids! Only mine are much more morbid about it.
Wait till they find out I used to work at a funeral home, the questions will NEVER stop.
Posted by: ben | June 13, 2005 1:07 PM
Target in heaven? Well that sounds a lot better than just sitting around playing a harp all day.
Posted by: Beth | June 13, 2005 1:35 PM
You have to remember, this is the kid who asked to go to Target REPEATEDLY while we were at Disneyland. He just loves him some Tarz-ay.
Posted by: Jenny | June 13, 2005 2:28 PM
Oh, I remember the explaining death phase only too well. When the oldest was about 3, she had hysterics, usually at bedtime, for months. Luckily, I hadn't taught her the "...and if I die before I wake..." version of "Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep." She'd still be in therapy. Not that she doesn't probably need it anyway... I hope yours take it more calmly.
Tarz-ay in heaven? I think that's just a given. That's a smart boy you have there.
Posted by: Dawn | June 13, 2005 3:34 PM
We've been exploring similar themes in our house, and also for reasons that I cannot quite explain. I THINK it may be lingering effects from our cat's passing (going on three months now) but I'm not sure. You never really are sure when it comes to munchkins.
I like your son's philosophy: whatever makes it palatable. He's wise beyond his years. May he be closer to the truth than the supposed experts.
Posted by: Carmi | June 13, 2005 6:46 PM
LOL! Oh, my - I actually had Sprite spurt from my mouth! My kids, all four of them, actually all went through that "death" phase. It went as far as planning their own funerals - I could barely take it! My kids never thought of Target Heaven though!
Posted by: Jen - Lance's Wife | June 13, 2005 7:34 PM
Well OF COURSE there is Target in heaven! How could it be heavenly without Target. In Hell there is only WalMart. And it's always the day after Thanksgiving.
Posted by: buffi | June 13, 2005 9:12 PM
Hahaha! I love that he loves Target!
The picture of the three of them in the last post = CUTE! I love it!
Posted by: Toryssa | June 14, 2005 1:16 AM
That's awesome that he says there's a Target in heaven! LOL
You don't spend much time shopping there now, do ya? ;)
"Well OF COURSE there is Target in heaven! How could it be heavenly without Target. In Hell there is only WalMart. And it's always the day after Thanksgiving."
Amen, sistah!! :)
Posted by: Amy | June 15, 2005 4:16 PM